ST George Illawarra fullback Ben Hornby had just dived over the line in the 79th minute to assure victory for the Dragons in their final match of the 2002 regular season against Newcastle. But the size of the victory meant that for the first time, the Warriors had finished as minor premiers.

SOME fans would say that New Zealand rugby league is currently enjoying a boom period. There was huge media and public interest when the Warriors reached the NRL grand final in 2002, and now that the Warriors look likely to again make the top 8 (for the third consecutive year), New Zealand rugby league fans have a competitive side to watch week in, week out, in the world?s best rugby league competition. Surely this is what the fans and administrators hoped for when the Warriors played their first game in 1995.

THE NSW State of Origin squad has just been announced for the third and final game of the series at Suncorp Stadium on July 16. There are a few changes to the line-up, with selectors recalling Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta, who was named at lock in place of the suspended Ben Kennedy.

IN the first game of the second part of split Round 10 in New Zealand's Bartercard Cup competition, Central had first use of Saturday's storm wind and led Wellington 18-6 at the break at Palmerston North, but the visitors kept the Falcons scoreless in the second half and ground out a 20-18 win.

PENRITH Panthers coach , John Lang has maintained the intensity for this weekends clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Lang has made no changes to his run on side and the only change is the return of Colin Ward to the interchange bench.